The 2026 college football season is almost here, but the exact start date depends on which subdivision and opening weekend you follow. FCS games begin Thursday, Aug. 27, the FBS Week 0 slate starts Saturday, Aug. 29 and the first full Saturday arrives Sept. 5. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest season-opening dates, matchups and how to watch on FOX.
When Does the 2026 College Football Season Start?
The 2026 FCS season begins Thursday, Aug. 27, with several games. The FBS season begins two days later on Saturday, Aug. 29, opening with North Carolina vs. TCU at noon ET in Dublin, Ireland.
When Does FBS College Football Start in 2026?
The 2026 FBS season begins Saturday, Aug. 29, with a limited Week 0 schedule played ahead of the traditional opening weekend. The opening slate includes one game overseas.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic sends North Carolina and No. 23 TCU, as ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, kicking off at noon ET on ESPN. Later that day, NC State visits Virginia at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The NC State-Virginia game was originally scheduled for Rio de Janeiro before being relocated to Charlottesville.
FOX’s Week 0 coverage begins with Memphis at UNLV at 10 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.
Other Week 0 matchups include San Jose State at USC, Hawaii at Stanford and New Mexico State at Florida State.
Joel Klatt’s Top 10 Players for the 2026 Season
Joel Klatt ranks his Top 10 CFB players, led by Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith and more.
What Is Week 0 in College Football?
Week 0 is the name given to the limited group of college football games played before the first full week of the season. It gives eligible programs an earlier opening date while most teams wait until Week 1 to begin their schedules.
Are Week 0 Games Regular-Season Games?
Yes. Week 0 games are regular-season contests and count toward each team’s record. Week 0 is not a preseason or exhibition period.
When Does Week 1 Start?
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season starts Thursday, Sept. 3 and runs through Monday, Sept. 7. The first full Saturday is Sept. 5, when most of the marquee opening-weekend matchups will be played during Labor Day weekend.
FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff returns for the new season at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 5, broadcasting from Bloomington, Indiana, as it celebrates the reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers. FOX’s Big Noon Saturday window will spotlight college football’s last three national champions across the first three weeks of the season.
Week 0 and Week 1 Matchups on FOX Networks
- Memphis at UNLV, Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- UMass at Rutgers, Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- UAB at Illinois, Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Indiana State at Purdue, Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Toledo at Michigan State, Friday, Sept. 4, 8 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- Fresno State at USC, Friday, Sept. 4, 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Ohio at Nebraska, Saturday, Sept. 5, noon ET (FS1, FOX One)
- North Texas at Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 5, noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Ball State at Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 12:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Boston College at Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Marshall at Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- Northern Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 5, 4:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Abilene Christian at Texas Tech, Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- South Dakota State at Northwestern, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Hampton at Maryland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Central Michigan at New Mexico, Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
Other Notable Week 0 and Week 1 Matchups
- Aer Lingus College Football Classic: North Carolina vs. No. 23 TCU (US LBM Coaches Poll), Saturday, Aug. 29, noon ET (ESPN) in Dublin, Ireland
- NC State at Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 29, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Boise State at Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Clemson at LSU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC and Peacock) in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Louisville vs. Ole Miss, Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) in Nashville, Tennessee
- SMU at Florida State, Monday, Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
How to Watch College Football in 2026
Week 0 and Week 1 games will air across FOX, FS1, ABC, CBS, ESPN, NBC and Peacock, along with conference-focused networks such as Big Ten Network, SEC Network and ACC Network.
FOX’s opening-weekend coverage includes Big Noon Kickoff and Big Noon Saturday, plus additional games on FS1 and BTN throughout the weekend. For a simple way to keep up with the action, fans can get FOX college football and more in one subscription with FOX One.
For fans without cable, live-streaming services that carry FOX and FS1 include YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. Channel and local-affiliate availability varies by service, package and market. If you have an antenna in a good reception area, you can also watch FOX’s college football coverage on your local FOX station. Check the Federal Communications Commission’s TV reception maps to see which stations are available in your area.
Can the 2026 College Football Schedule Change?
Yes. Kickoff times, television networks and game locations can change before the season begins. Check the linked FOX Sports event pages for the latest matchup information.
Read the full article here
